Melvin White

Transformational Leader, Workforce Investor, Community Advocate

Melvin White has spent more than two decades transforming lives—and entire communities—through workforce development. Long before the national conversation shifted toward hiring for clean energy careers, Melvin was already on the ground, building career pathways for people who were often overlooked by traditional employers.

Since 1999, Melvin has launched workforce training programs for individuals, with his earliest successes rooted in Austin, TX. By 2007, his impact was so visible that the Port Arthur City Council invited him to replicate his work in their city. Backed by a grant from the Department of Commerce, his programs have trained over 2,000 skilled workers, with an impressive 80% job placement rate.

At the heart of his efforts is the Digital Workforce Academy (DWA), an initiative Melvin started by risking it all. He cashed in his 401(k) and sold his home to invest $75,000 in launching the academy. His gamble paid off. Today, DWA trains individuals in technology, advanced manufacturing, and industrial crafts across Austin, Port Arthur, and Houston, boasting an 85% placement rate.

Melvin also founded MRSW, a recruiting and managed services firm that connects DWA graduates to employers. This model doesn’t just train people—it gets them hired and reinvests in the community.

Currently, through the EPIXC institute and its apprenticeship readiness program, Melvin is accelerating clean energy training in collaboration with IBEW Local 479 in Beaumont, Texas. His leadership made it possible to launch in months what could’ve taken years. For Melvin, it’s all about building human capacity—turning spectators into contributors and giving people a real shot at a better life. Melvin White is a Modern Maker.

Q&A with Melvin

How did you find your way to working in advanced manufacturing?

The Golden Triangle Empowerment Center (GTEC) in Port Arthur partnered with EPIXC to develop technologies to improve process heat efficiency in manufacturing industries, including petrochemical, cement, steel, pulp wood, and food processing. We have also partnered with the IBEW 479 to develop an electrical bootcamp to provide foundational skills for learners. Upon completion of the bootcamp, participants will be admitted into the IBEW 479 apprenticeship program or receive direct employment in construction and manufacturing.

Graphic with an orange background and white font listing Melvin White's perfect day activities: Exercise and meditation Spending time with family Helping create solutions for people

Photo of Melvin White holding a large fish next to a boat

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Getting all stakeholders including industry, colleges and Community Based Organizations to come together to build a training to employment ecosystem for people.

What is the best part of your job?

Empowering people to become the best version of themselves by obtaining training in marketable skills that lead to a pathway to a career.

What would people be surprised to learn about manufacturing or your role in it?

The energy transition is the country’s next industrial revolution that will change the way manufacturing is done and create job opportunities for all. We have the opportunity to be on the front end of the transformation, teaching life skills and foundational skills to committed learners.

What advice do you have for someone new to the industry?

Get involved in local discussions with educational entities, government, and industry to learn what is the best way to proceed in this new career. Seek to enter into an apprenticeship program.